Speedo & Odometer problems

[Tappo]

Hiya!!!!

I have just bought myself my first TVR, a lovely Chimaera (1993). Needless to say it is loads of fun and is a fulfilment of a 14 year dream.

On driving it, the speedo has developed a couple of issues.

1. The speed on the clock does not match the actual speed (checked against GPS). i.e. 30mph on the clock = 30mph actual, 50 mph on the clock = 40mph actual, 95mph on the clock = 70mph actual.

2. The odometer has got stuck. I have tried a few of the tricks suggested on Pistonheads (tapping speedo when it is trying to change etc).

Any ideas that I could try to sort these problems out? Or am I best to send the speedo in for a professional to look at? Any ideas on how much this would cost?

Thankyou

Tappo

[spend]

Sounds suspiciously like you have the wrong speedo to me. They are not norm that accurate at 30 or so far out at 70 when miscalibrated. 93 cars should have ETB clocks - there is a calibration screw at the back. Stories of old dealers & axle stands in 4th spring to mind.

Dave

[V8 Devil]

If the speedo is the correct one you can send it off to speedy cables, approximate cost £150.

[Tappo]

Cheers for the info. Do you have a phone number or email for speedy cables?

[V8 Devil]

Here you go.
http://www.speedycables.com/

[spend]

If your speedo is black rimmed it is prob an ETB - they also repair them. Simple rule of thumb, I would send to the orig makers ie CAI to speedy & ETB to ETB, for servicing.

Dave

[Tappo]

Cheers for the link.

I have a black rimmed speedo. I assume it will have the makers name etc on the back when I remove the dash to get to it?

[jdharris]

Odometer sticking is pretty common as I understand it. Mine has stuck twice as it ticks over the thousand mile mark. I was advised by Fernies to give it a swift thump to the top of the dash while at speed as that usually freed them. This didn't work the first time so I had Fernies take a look at it. Second time happened last week. I again tried the "swift thump" approach and that freed it this time.

[Tappo]

Cheers for the feedback guys. Will try the dash thumping first to get the odometer working.

Contacted Speedy and they have quoted £80+vat+carriage to sort it all out. Seems reasonable to me.

Cheers guys

[V8 Animal]

Tappo said:

Cheers for the feedback guys. Will try the dash thumping first to get the odometer working.

Contacted Speedy and they have quoted £80+vat+carriage to sort it all out. Seems reasonable to me.

Cheers guys

That's what i paid you will be without it for a month so bear that in mind.
Had mine repared in jan.

[Tappo]

I was thinking doing likewise, though maybe if I send it in now, the rain will miraculously disappear and it will be sunny and hot right up until the day it returns

Did you need to disconnect the battery when removing the speedo? Just that the alarm I have fitted is a bit of a pain when the battery is isolated.

[V8 Animal]

Tappo said:

I was thinking doing likewise, though maybe if I send it in now, the rain will miraculously disappear and it will be sunny and hot right up until the day it returns

Did you need to disconnect the battery when removing the speedo? Just that the alarm I have fitted is a bit of a pain when the battery is isolated.

No

[V8 Devil]

I didn't disconnect the battery when I removed mine, no problem.

Edited by V8 Devil on Monday 23 July 22:22

[Tappo]

Cheers guys. A job for me to do later on in the year.

[Ribol]

Tappo said:

1. The speed on the clock does not match the actual speed (checked against GPS). i.e. 30mph on the clock = 30mph actual, 50 mph on the clock = 40mph actual, 95mph on the clock = 70mph actual.

Just a thought, do you have the right sized wheels/tyres on it?

[Tappo]

That had actually crossed my mind, whilst reading up on tyres in the Steve Heath bible. I have checked and the wheels & tyres this morning and they are correct.

Thankyou for getting in contact. Any other thoughts?

[GingaNinga]

Not necessarily much help, but my speedo reads 10% over at all speeds. Annoying when the wife-to-be's put a 100mph limit on me with her in the car and I know it's only doing 90mph. Here darling - check the speed on the sat nav
J.

[Tappo]

I haven't let mine in the car yet, so haven't had the problem of the whining noise from the passenger seat at high speed

[V8 Animal]

GingaNinga said:

Not necessarily much help, but my speedo reads 10% over at all speeds. Annoying when the wife-to-be's put a 100mph limit on me with her in the car and I know it's only doing 90mph. Here darling - check the speed on the sat nav
J.

Speedy can sort that out aswell.(not the wife bit)

[spend]

Tappo said:

I haven't let mine in the car yet, so haven't had the problem of the whining noise from the passenger seat at high speed

Later Models are normally quiet for a while, but need regular overhaul. Should be renewed at each service IMHO

Dave